The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in West Virginia

The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in West Virginia is the most comprehensive description of bird life in the Mountain State ever published. Building on the first Atlas, published in 1994, this book documents the occurrence of 170 species of breeding birds, including three new species and one whose last breeding record was in 1888.

Compiled from the efforts of almost two hundred volunteers, who worked from 2009 to 2014 to amass more than one hundred thousand records and conduct point-count surveys, the Atlas presents detailed information about each species and two hybrids. Species accounts are accompanied by maps that show breeding evidence as well as estimates of occurrence, change in occurrence, and population density. The volume covers state geography, climate, and changing habitats. It includes both a discussion of conservation concerns important to the state’s breeding birds and a history of state ornithology and changes in West Virginia’s avifauna drawn from observations and research from the nineteenth through the twenty-first century.

Featuring up-to-date information about 170 bird species and hundreds of beautiful color photographs—nearly all of which are identified by county locations—The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in West Virginia is an indispensable resource for researchers, conservationists, and birders.

“As a friend and contributor to The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in West Virginia noted, “This atlas has something for everyone.” From the casual birder to the academic to those charged with developing budgets for conservation efforts, this atlas gives a foundation for strategic planning to slow or reverse population declines, and to conserve the avian fauna of the Mountain State.”—LeJay Graffious, American Birding Association

“As states update their breeding bird atlases, quality of research, thoroughness of data collection, and importance of results for guiding future state conservation and management are priorities. The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in West Virginia exceeds expectations in every way by providing outstanding resources for birders, biologists, researchers, and anyone interested in learning about the state of birds in West Virginia.”—Christopher M. Lituma, Ornithology

Richard Bailey is the State Ornithologist for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

Casey Rucker is a self-taught ornithologist and the editor of The Redstart, West Virginia’s birding journal.

Foreword

Albert R. Buckelew Jr.

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1: Introduction

Richard S. Bailey and Casey B. Rucker

Chapter 2: Geography and Climate

Richard S. Bailey and Molly E. McDermott

Chapter 3: Habitats in a Changing Landscape

Molly E. McDermott, Casey B. Rucker, and Richard S. Bailey

Chapter 4: Survey Design and Field Methods

Richard S. Bailey

Chapter 5: Analytical Methods

Andrew M. Wilson

Chapter 6: Summary of Coverage and Results

Molly E. McDermott

Chapter 7: Guide to Species Accounts

Richard S. Bailey

Chapter 8: Species Accounts

Chapter 9: Bird Conservation in West Virginia

Richard S. Bailey and Casey B. Rucker

Appendices

Appendix A: Extirpated, Rare, and Hypothetically Breeding Species

Casey B. Rucker

Appendix B: Species Block Summaries

Appendix C: Estimates of Change in Occurrence

Appendix D: Comparisons of Raw Occupancy Data Between Atlases

Appendix E: Population and Trend Statistics

Appendix F: Habitat and Elevation Statistics

Appendix G: Breeding Phenology

Appendix H: Safe Dates

Appendix I: Common and Scientific Names of Referenced Flora and Fauna

Appendix J: Field Forms

Literature Cited

Index

Introduction

Nature